System and method for specifying elliptical parameters

ABSTRACT

An interactive elliptical arc control system and method are disclosed. Three control points are provided—a center control point and two foci control points—that a user can interactively manipulate in order to specify and change the elliptical parameters involved. The center control point can control the radius of the ellipse in the x direction, while keeping constant the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction. The center control point can also control the relationship of the sweep flag to the large arc flag involved. The two foci control points can control the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction, the angle from the x-axis of the coordinate system to the x-axis of the ellipse, and the value of the sweep flag.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/367,077 filed Feb. 14, 2003, entitled, “System and Method for Specifying Elliptical Parameters,” which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/357,480 filed Feb. 15, 2002, entitled “System and Method for Specifying Elliptical Parameters”.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates in general to the Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) field and, in particular, but not exclusively, to a system and method providing an intuitive and interactive interface for specifying parameters for computer-implemented drawing of arc segments, including elliptical arc segments.

BACKGROUND

Certain CAD/CAM drawing tools exist that include elliptical arcs. To simplify the user interface, these tools typically fix certain of the ellipses' parameters. For example, a common, simplified drawing technique used for creating an ellipse is to force the ellipse to be parallel either to the x- or y-axis, and then have the user draw a box into which the ellipse is to fit. Other drawing tools allow a user to manually enter (e.g., type in) the elliptical parameters, which can provide some design flexibility.

Certain CAD applications import and export Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) data including elliptical arc segments. SVG is a vector-based CAD format that enables users to create dynamic interactive graphics that can be resized, animated, rotated, etc. in real-time. Each elliptical arc segment is specified in SVG with five elliptical parameters plus the endpoints of the segment involved.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a method and system for specifying arc parameters for computer implemented drawings. In accordance with one embodiment, an interactive arc control system is provided for use in drawing and diagramming applications, which enables a user to completely specify the parameters of an arc (e.g., an elliptical arc) connecting two node points.

In one embodiment, the arc control system provides two control points—a center control point and a focus control point—that a user can interactively manipulate in order to change the parameters of a particular arc (e.g., an elliptical arc) being displayed. For example if an elliptical arc is displayed or being drawn, the center control point controls the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), while keeping constant the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis) to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis). The center control point can also control the relationship of the sweep flag (e.g., flag specifying whether the arc is to be drawn clockwise or counter-clockwise) to the large arc flag (e.g., flag specifying whether the larger or smaller arc of the ellipse is to be used). The focus control point controls the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis) to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), the angle from the x-axis of the coordinate system to the x-axis of the ellipse (rotation), and the sweep flag. As a result, the two control points described can be used to specify the parameters for an arc connecting two node points in an intuitive and relatively easy manner.

In an alternative embodiment, the arc control system provides three control points—a center control point and two foci control points—that a user can interactively manipulate in order to change the parameters of a particular arc (e.g., an elliptical arc) being displayed. Similarly, in this embodiment if an elliptical arc is being displayed, the center control point controls the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), while keeping constant the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis) to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis). The center control point can also control the relationship of the sweep flag (e.g., flag specifying whether the arc is to be drawn clockwise or counter-clockwise) to the large arc flag (e.g., flag specifying whether the larger or smaller arc of the ellipse is to be used). Each of the two foci control points can control the ratio of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis) to the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), the angle from the x-axis of the coordinate system to the x-axis of the ellipse (rotation), and the sweep flag. As a result, the three control points described can be used to specify the parameters for an arc connecting two node points in an intuitive and relatively easy manner and provide greater symmetry of the displayed control.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustrates an example work station that can be used to implement one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of a drawing tool of the elliptical arc control system according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-B are exemplary displays of an elliptical arc that a user can specify by interactively manipulating one or more of the control points shown;

FIG. 4 illustrates elliptical arc parameters used for end point parameterization in an SVG system;

FIG. 5 illustrates elliptical arc parameters used for center point parameterization;

FIG. 6 illustrates elliptical arc parameters used for foci point parameterization; and

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow diagram for implementing one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary workstation 10 that can be used to implement one or more embodiments of the systems and methods of the present disclosure is provided. The workstation 10 can be a computer typically used for CAD/CAM or engineering applications, desktop publishing, software development, or other types of applications that provide relatively high quality graphics capabilities. For example, workstation 10 can be a desktop computer having a high-resolution graphics monitor 12, internal memory (e.g., Random Access Memory) 14, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 16. A mouse 20, other pointing device, or touch screen may be provided to allow a user to specify, select, move and/or otherwise control elements displayed by GUI 16 on monitor 12. The memory 14 may also include a mass storage device or media 18, such as a disk drive.

A suitable operating system for workstation 10 can be a UNIX® or WINDOWS NT® operating system. Workstation 10 can be a single-user computer, or a plurality of workstations, servers and/or other computer devices linked together to form one or more local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), or a portion of a global network, such as the Internet.

Referring to FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of an arc control system 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The arc control system 100 includes an application window 110 and an interactive arc control component 102. The elliptical arc control system 100 can be implemented in software and/or hardware. The application window 110 is displayed on monitor 12 by GUI 16, and allows users to generate objects (e.g., elliptical arcs) and to interactively modify the objects by manipulating one or more control points associated with the objects.

The interactive arc control system 102 includes an end point parameterization component 104, a center point parameterization component 106, and a foci point parameterization component 108. The end point parameterization component 104 is used by the system 100 to support Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). The center parameterization component 106 is used for drawing an arc (e.g., an elliptical arc) for display in application window 110. The combination of the center parameterization component 106 and the foci parameterization component 108 provides user control of the arc (e.g., elliptical arc parameters) parameters by determining the arc parameters from control points graphically specified by the user through the application window 110. In a particular embodiment, the arc control system 102 may determine all of the parameters by converting, for example, elliptical parameters from one type to another while holding the end points of the arc fixed. In a specific embodiment, for example, the arc control system 102 may map endpoint parameters to center and/or foci parameters and may map center and/or foci parameters to each other and/or to endpoint parameters.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary elliptical arc 120 displayed to and controllable by a user through application window 110. The elliptical arc 120 and any suitable SVG arc may be displayed to and manipulated by the user in real time. The elliptical arc 120 connects two endpoints, P₁ and P₂. Control points defining the elliptical arc's configuration are also displayed on application window 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, three control points can be used for manipulating the arc displayed—a center point (C) and two foci points (F₁ and F₂). In an alternative embodiment, seen in FIG. 3B, two control points can be used for manipulating the arc displayed—a center point (C) and a foci point (F₁ or F₂). The configuration of the elliptical arc 120 can be specified by the user by interactively manipulating one or more of the center (C) or foci (F₁ and/or F₂) control points. Each end point P₁, P₂, and control point C and F₁ and/or F₂ can be independently manipulated by selecting and dragging the point with mouse 20 connected to GUI 16 of the workstation 10.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 3A-B at least one of the foci points, F₁ or F₂, is used based on the specified control points used the parameters to render the elliptical arc 120 and to support SVG or other standards for defining elliptical arcs can be determined. In a particular embodiment, the standardized parameters for SVG are provided by the end point parameterization component 104 (seen in FIG. 2) and are determined based on the control points using center parameterization component 106 and foci parameterization component 108.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary ellipse 122 and elliptical arc 121 specified by the end point parameterization component 104. For example, with end point parameterization, the parameters P₁ and P₂ represent the start point and end point of the arc 121. The parameters R_(x) and R_(y) represent the radius of the ellipse 122 in the x direction and y direction, respectively. The parameter, φ, represents the angle from the x-axis of the coordinate system to the x-axis of the ellipse 122 (e.g., rotation). The parameter, f_(A), specifies whether the larger or smaller arc of the ellipse 122 is used (e.g., large arc flag), and the parameter, f_(S), specifies whether the arc 121 is drawn clockwise or counter-clockwise (e.g., sweep flag). As described below, the end points P₁ and P₂ are entered by the user, and the remaining parameters of the arc to be displayed are indirectly determined from the control points by center and foci parameterization components 106 and 108.

FIG. 5 illustrates the elliptical arc 121 specified by the center parameterization component 106. For example, with center point parameterization, the parameter C represents the center point of the arc 121. The parameters φ, R_(x) and R_(y) are as previously described. The parameter, θ, represents the start angle of the arc 121 (from the x-axis of the coordinate system), and the parameter Δθ, represents the sweep angle of the arc 121 (e.g., negative for a clockwise arc).

FIG. 6 illustrates the ellipse 122 specified by the foci parameterization component 108. For example, with foci point parameterization, the parameter F₁ represents the first focal point of the ellipse 122, the parameter F₂ represents the second focal point of the ellipse 122, and the parameter F_(R) represents the focal radius of the ellipse involved (sum of the distances from each of the foci to any point on the ellipse).

In one aspect of operation, the elliptical arc control system 102 allows a user to move one or more of the end points and control points (e.g., C, P₁, P₂, F₁, or F₂) shown in FIG. 3 in an interactive an intuitive manner and based on those points specifies all of the remaining end point, center and foci parameters shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 based on the mathematical relationships that can exist between the elliptical parameters involved. The control points can be changed by a user “dragging” (e.g., with a cursor controlled by a mouse 20) these points directly on monitor 12 (e.g., via GUI 16).

For example, referring to FIG. 3, the foci, F₁ and F₂, lie on the semi-major axis of the elliptical arc 120. Consequently, the rotation angle, φ (FIGS. 4 and 5), can be computed from the foci, F₁ and F₂. Also, the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), R_(x) (FIGS. 4 and 5), can be determined by the relationship, R_(x)=F_(R)/2 (where F_(R) in FIG. 6 is the focal radius of the ellipse 122 involved). If a parameter, F_(C), represents the distance from either foci, F₁ or F₂, to the center of the ellipse 122 involved (FIG. 6), then the square of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis), R_(y) ², is equal to the square of the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis),R_(x) ², minus the square of the parameter, F_(C) (e.g., R_(y) ²=R_(x) ²−F_(C) ²). The center point, C (FIG. 3), can determine which of the two possible ellipses can be used, and can also establish a relationship between the sweep flag, F_(S), and the large arc flag, F_(A) (e.g., either F_(A)=F_(S) or F_(A) not equal F_(S)). Also, the foci, F₁ and F₂ (FIG. 3), can be interchangeable (i.e., swapping the values of F₁ and F₂ can result in the same ellipse). Consequently, the relative positions of the foci, F₁ and F₂, can be used to determine the value of the sweep flag, F_(S), without sacrificing generality. As such, rotating an ellipse by 180 degrees can result in flipping the value of the sweep flag, F_(S) (from true to false or vice versa).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method 200 that can be used to draw arcs in accordance with the present disclosure. As such, the above-described geometric relationships can be used to determine all of the end point parameters for an elliptical arc by a user manipulating one or more of the three control points, C, F₁ or F₂ (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3) using, for example, GUI 16 and elliptical arc control 102 (FIG. 2). At step 202, if a user moves the center control point, C, at step 203, new values can be computed for the foci control points, F₁ and F₂, with the value of the distance from either foci control point to the center of the ellipse, F_(C), being held fixed. At step 204, the value of the focal radius, F_(R), can be computed twice, based on the points, P₁ and P₂. At step 205, the smaller value of F_(R) based on P₁ or P₂ can be used to re-compute the radius of the ellipse in the x direction (semi-major axis), R_(x). At step 206, the value of the radius of the ellipse in the y direction (semi-minor axis), R_(y), can be computed from the ratio of R_(y)/R_(x). At step 208, if the center control point, C, is moved across a straight line joining the end points, P1 and P2, then at step 209, the value of F_(S) can be swapped (e.g., the value of F_(A) is maintained, but the relationship between F_(A) and F_(S) has changed). Otherwise, at step 210, the center and foci control parameters, C, F₁ and F₂, can be re-computed based on the new end point parameters, and the resulting curve and control points can be redrawn.

At step 212, if a user moves or “drags” the first focal point of the ellipse, F₁, at step 213, a new F_(C) (distance from either foci to the center of the ellipse) and second focal point of the ellipse, F₂, can be computed with C and the focal radius, F_(R), being held fixed. At step 214, the rotation angle, φ, can be re-computed based on the new values of the foci control points, F₁ and F₂. At step 215, the new F_(C) can be used to re-compute the radius of the ellipse in the x direction, R_(x), and the radius of the ellipse in the y direction, R_(y). At step 216, if a user moves the first focal control point, F₁, across the x-axis, at step 217, the values of each of the sweep flag, f_(S), and the large arc flag, f_(A), can be swapped. Otherwise, at step 218, the center and foci control parameters, C, F₁ and F₂, can be re-computed based on the new end point parameters, and the resulting curve and control points can be redrawn. The second focal point of the ellipse, F₂, may be manipulated by performing the same steps 212 through 218 as performed for the first focal point, F₁. In fact, the above-described function of interactively specifying elliptical parameters can be provided using only two of the control points shown (e.g., the center control point and one of the foci control points). However, a second foci control point (e.g., F₁ or F₂) can be included to provide a symmetrical and more intuitive interface to be used.

The end point parameters can be mapped to the movement of the center and foci control points, C, F₁ and F₂, in a number of other ways. For example, if a user moves the center control point, C, instead of computing the radius of the ellipse in the y direction, R_(y), to maintain the ratio of R_(y)/R_(x) constant, the value of R_(y) can be computed to maintain F_(C) constant. Also, if a user moves a focal control point (e.g., F₁), the other focal control point (e.g., F₂) can be maintained constant, instead of maintaining the position of the center control point, C, constant, and vice versa.

Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present disclosure has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as set forth and defined by the following claims. 

1. A method for rendering an elliptical arc in response to user input, comprising: receiving, via a pointing device of a graphical user interface (GUI), a first end point and a second end point for an elliptical arc; receiving, via the pointing device of the GUI, a center point for the elliptical arc; receiving, via the pointing device of the GUI, a foci point for the elliptical arc; and rendering the elliptical arc passing through the first and second end points, and having a center at the center point and a semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the foci point.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the pointing device of the GUI, a second foci point for the elliptical arc; and rendering the elliptical arc having the semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the second foci point.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a radius of the ellipse along the semi-major axis and a radius of the ellipse along a semi-minor axis based on the received user input.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an angle from an x-axis of a coordinate system of the GUI to an x-axis of the ellipse based on the received user input.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the arc of the ellipse and a direction of the arc based on the received user input.
 6. A system for rendering an elliptical arc in response to user input, comprising: a graphical user interface; and a pointing device coupled to the graphical user interface, the graphical user interface operable to: receive, via the pointing device, a first end point and a second end point for an elliptical arc; receive, via the pointing device, a center point for the elliptical arc; receive, via the pointing device, a foci point for the elliptical arc; and render the elliptical arc passing through the first and second end points, and having a center at the center point and a semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the foci point.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to: receive, via the pointing device of the GUI, a second foci point for the elliptical arc; and render the elliptical arc having the semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the second foci point.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to determine the radius of the ellipse along the semi-major axis and a radius of the ellipse along a semi-minor axis based on the received user input.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to determine an angle from an x-axis of a coordinate system of the GUI to the x-axis of the ellipse based on the received user input.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to determine the arc of the ellipse and a direction of the arc based on the received user input.
 11. Software for rendering an elliptical arc in response to user input, the software being embodied in logic encoded in media and when executed operable to: receive, via a pointing device of a GUI, a first end point and a second end point for an elliptical arc; receive, via the pointing device of the GUI, a center point for the elliptical arc; receive, via the pointing device of the GUI, a foci point for the elliptical arc; render the elliptical arc passing through the first and second endpoints, and having a center at the center point and a semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the foci point; and determine a radius of the ellipse along the semi-major axis, a radius of the ellipse along a semi-minor axis and an angle from an x-axis of a coordinate system of the GUI to an x-axis of the ellipse based on the received user input.
 12. The software of claim 11, wherein the software is further operable to: receive, via the pointing device of the GUI, a second foci point for the elliptical arc; and render the elliptical arc having the semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the second foci point.
 13. The software of claim 11, wherein the software is further operable to determine the radius of the ellipse along the semi-major axis and a radius of the ellipse along a semi-minor axis based on the received user input.
 14. The software of claim 11, wherein the software is further operable to determine an angle from an x-axis of a coordinate system of the GUI to the x-axis of the ellipse based on the received user input.
 15. The software of claim 11, wherein the software is further operable to determine the arc of the ellipse and a direction of the arc based on the received user input.
 16. A system for rendering an elliptical arc in response to user input, comprising: means for receiving from a user a first end point and a second end point for an elliptical arc; means for receiving from a user a center point for the elliptical arc; means for receiving a foci point for the elliptical arc; means for rendering the elliptical arc passing through the first and second end points, and having a center at the center point and a semi-major axis along a line joining the center point and the foci point; and means for determining a radius of the ellipse along a semi-major axis, a radius of the ellipse along a semi-minor axis, an angle from an x-axis of a coordinate system of the GUI to the x-axis of the ellipse based on the received user input. 